The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-04-07
LETTER FROM RKE.
Special Correspondence Democratic Press.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, /
Anril 1st. 1887.

+ LETTER ER OM BU AAE.
Special Correspondence Democratic Press.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa,
April 1st, 1887. !
All Fools Day finds me in one of the
busiest and prettiest cities IN the broad
State of Iowa, and finer day for the
first of April never saw. In Ohio, at
least, that day is q sure prompter of \
rain storm, but here the sky is rs clear
and the air as bslmy as your May or
dune days. Where l am now writing
[ sit at a table, near an open door, and
there is no fire in any of the stoves.
$ This city is on the Missouri river, in
Pottawattamie county, of which it is
the county seat. 1t is 4SS miles from
Chicago, 14l from DesMoines, SIC from
Burlington, and about 40 from st.
Louis. 1t is the eastern terminus of
the Union Pacific r. R., the western
terminus of five, the southern termin-
us of one and the northern terminus
of two large lines of railroads, A hand
some Union depot accommodates the
enormous traffic that passes through
here, aud it is about centain that in
short time the increase in business
will necessitate the erection of a larger
and more commo odious structure. Be
sides these almost unsurpassed railroad
facilities, means of trans sportatiop are
afforded by steamers which call here
daily during the season of navigation
A splendid iron railroad bridge spans
the river at this point, briuging Coun
Gil Bluffs into close connection with
the Western trade, and company has
been formed by citizens of this place
and Omaha having for lis object the
construction Of wagon bridge across
the Missouri. AS the stock is mostly
subscribed, there is no doubt that the
project will be carried out,
The principal manufacturing inter,
est= are poik packing establishments.
8 carriage factories, sash and door
fastories, Z large Touring mills, q brew
esy, several grain elevators, one OF
which is unprecedented in the west
for size, and extensive stock yards
through which pass cattle raised on
the plains of Wyoming, Colorado,
Texas, Montana anu Nebraska.
There are Is churches. some of them
models of architectural beauty, II
schools, S banks, several first class
hotels, 2 fine Opera houses, excellent
water works. supplying Missouri river
water to the inhabitants-which is not
half SO good As Mother Wards Pond
water, if it is going to cost SIC, 900
more-a Board of Trade and all the
other attributes of first class city.
Many new buildings, both public
and private, have been completed dur
ing the past year. notably the $3.50,
600 U. 8. building and q new Court
House erected at a cost of $3.50, $50.
The press is represented by thriving
daily papers, the Nonpareil, Democratic
Eagle, and the Herald, all of which also
publish weekly editions. The presses
are run by water power, which is n OF
a new way to run printing presses,
Council Bluffs has already demon
strated the fact that it is destined to
rank among the first cities not only oi
Iowa, but of the West.
Some two years ago the legislature
passed the celebrated Iowa prohibition
law. 1t has been strictly enforced in
a great many of the towns and cities
In this city this law was not enforced
until day before yesterday. when the
Stale of Iowa Oh relation of prominent
Prohibitienists, obtained writs of in.
junction against all the saloon keepers
which enjoins them from selling liq
uor of any kind or in any shape
These writs were served and the con.
sequence is that not bar is open today
in Council Bluffs. The saloon keepers
you see, are liable to be assessed 8
heavy fine and confinement in the
county Jail, for refusing TO obey the
order of injunction, which is contem pi
of Court, besides the penalty for vio-
lating the prohibitory law. The J uds {
who allowed the Injunction is prom.
| inent ProhibitiOnist. The saloonists
have taken their cases into the =. 8
Court. and are anxiously awaiting the
| decision of that court, but in the mean.
tune the injunction prevails, and the
Prohibitionists are top.
Omaha is thriving city on the op
posite side of the river and about thres
miles from here. I have not yet beer
there, but start for there and the ia,
West tonight. BURKE.